Hinge



l. i.. VAN ETTEN.

HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED Dc.13, 1920.

1,405,362, Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVBQTOR UNITED STATES mvme L. vAN ETTEN, or NEW Yoax, N. Y.

HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent. y Patente-d Jan. 31, 1922.

` Application nled December 13, 1920. Serial. 11o. 430,816.

To all 'whom/it' may concern.'

Beit known that I, InvINc L. VAN ETTEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing atNew York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to articles of furniture which are susceptible of being folded, the invention provlding a construction which canl be folded into a comparatively small article so as to occupy a minimum of space when not in use.

The chief characteristic of the invention resides in providing a construction` wherein the supporting legs when released from their folded positions, -are automatically moved to their active positions an'd equipped with an interlocking hinge 4or the like which holds the legs immovable in their position for" use.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be betterfunderstood when the following detailed description is read in.. connection with the accompanying drawings,` the invention residing in the eombmatlon,"

construction and arrangement of parts as claimed. .1

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate the similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure. 1 is a side-elevation of a table in longitudlnal edges thereof as at24. When l its set up position.

Figure 2 1s a vlew showing the same folded.

Figure 3 isa bottom plan view showing the legs in folded positions.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the legs in 'open position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 6.

Figure 6, is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the legs in folded position.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the plates.

While the invention is shown and d'escribed in connection with a table, I desire to v made in two sections 10 and 11 respectively which are hingedly connected together as The sections 10 and '11 may be folded 'oneon top of the other as will be readily understood, b1 1t to afford the said table top the proper rlgidity when in use, I provide a bar 14 which is plvoted as at 15 on the section 10 and adaptedto be arranged transversely of the top to bridge the meeting ends of the sections as clearly illustrated.

`Secured to the-underside of each section of the table top is a pair of spaced plates 16, each being provided with allange 17 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.v Secured to each plate 16 is onesection 18 of a spring hlnge, the other section of which is indlcated at 19 is secured to the adjacent leg 20 of the table. Each plate 16 has its outer edge curved downwardly as at 21 to form a part of an interlocking means for holding the adjacent leg immovable when in position for use. This lmeans embodies a plate 22, there being one of these plates secured to each leg of the table. Each plate 22 has one edge curved as at 23, the curvature being reversely disposed with regard to the curvature 21 of the adjacent plate 16 which as above stated is secured to the side of the table top. The plate 22 is wider than the4 corresponding dimension of the leg to which it 1s secured, and projects .beyond'one of the the legs of the table are folded in the man'- ner illustrated in Figure 2, they are arranged in pairs, with the legs of each pair in juxtaposition. One leg of each pair is arranged beneath the projection 24 of the plate 22 carried by the other leg, and 'in this manner the legs are retained in their folded positions against the influence of the spring aul hinges above described. Subsequent to the folding of the legs in this manner the table to sections may be arranged in parallel relation and held in this position by means of a hook and eye or any other suitable fastening means indicated generally at 25.

When use of the table is desired, the sections 10 and 11 of the table top are irst'extended to the position shown in Figure 2, after which the legs 21 are released from the retaining plates 22, being automatically moved to the active positionsby means of the spring hinges. After each leg assumes v its active positionthe curved edge 23 of the associated plate 22 rides over the curved edge 21 of the adjacent plate 16,*and is impinged between the curved edge 21 of the late 16 and the underside of the table top. n this manner the plate 16 and the adja cent plate 22 cooperates to provide an interlocking means to hold the legs immovable in a set up position. Manifestly, ll have provided a construction which can be folded into a very small article when not in use,

, and easily and quickly set u in position' for use when desired, the parts eing associated to afford the structure the desired rigidity.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, ll desire to have it understood that do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes maybe incassa' resorted to when desired as fall within the sco e of what is claimed...

hat ll claim isz-f f The combination with a hinged top and supporting len therefor, of a pair of s aced plates secure to each section of sai and-provided with abutting ianges, spring hinges secured to said plates and to the to of said legs and adapted to engage sai abutting flanges, depending curved anges extending from said plates, plates secured to said legs. adjacent the top thereof and provided with upstandin curved flanges adapted to engage said epending ianges and lateral extensions projecting from the last mentioned plates and adapted to engage said legs.

llntestimony `whereof li affix my signature.

lllitVllNGr L. VAN ETTEN?. 

